SN exclusive: WVU's Rodriguez, Michigan meet

http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/vie...p?t=318643

There's a new twist in Michigan's ongoing search for a head coach: University officials are meeting with West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez, according to Sporting News Radio correspondent Michael Bradley.

Rodriguez and his agent are in Toledo today to negotiate with Michigan athletic director Bill Martin and university president Mary Sue Coleman.

Michigan has been looking for a head coach since Lloyd Carr announced his retirement Nov. 19 after 13 seasons leading the program.

It was assumed LSU coach Les Miles was Michigan's top target. But Miles denied he was going to Michigan at a press conference before the SEC championship game, and signed an extension to stay at LSU. He also issued a statement earlier this week saying he as not a candidate for the Michigan job.

Greg Schiano was contacted about the job last week but decided to stay at Rutgers.

Rodriguez has been head coach at West Virginia since 2001. He has a 60-26 record with the Mountaineers, who face Oklahoma next month in the Fiesta Bowl.

From what I've read from folks supposedly "in the know", Rich told someone today that he isn't going anywhere, and that he was offered the Arkansas job before Petrino - they were going to pay his buyout (which is huge), and he turned them down.

But who knows.... as we all know things in coaching can change rapidly.

If he leaves, maybe we'll get someone who's learned that sometimes you have to throw the ball.

Rich is trying to get more money, and rightfully so.

What? again? That's what everyone said with the alabama fiasco. Its becoming more obvious, wvu isn't going to be his last gig. How many times can a person go back to the well?

It is a little early to be playing the money card again so there may be more to the story. It could turn out to be like the Les Miles fiasco. We'll see.

Again? Seriously, this is getting ridiculous. A football coach these days are more important than the University president. Between all the steroid scandals and widespread cheating among American sports, what has this society come to? Is there any loyalty left? Why do people like Bobby Petrino keep getting job after job? Does anyone care about morals or ethnic? Is this kind of value we want to instill our kids? Why do parents keep sending their kids to play for these so-called "role models"?

Didn't Rich just try to get more money, like, last year? It seems like atleast a part of him wants the Michigan job. Or, he really really likes more money.

SF Husky Wrote:Again? Seriously, this is getting ridiculous. A football coach these days are more important than the University president. Between all the steroid scandals and widespread cheating among American sports, what has this society come to? Is there any loyalty left? Why do people like Bobby Petrino keep getting job after job? Does anyone care about morals or ethnic? Is this kind of value we want to instill our kids? Why do parents keep sending their kids to play for these so-called "role models"?

Increasingly, I'm having difficulty seeing the difference between coaches and whores. But in saying that, can you really blame coaches? The expectations that boosters and fans now have for winning are unreasonable and the collective memory of fans and school administrations are short. A coach can go from a hero one year to being fired the next.

Why does everyone assume money is Rodriguez' objective? His main concern last time was raises for his assistant coaches, and improvements to the facilities in Morgantown. His raise was a perk.

wvucrazed Wrote:From what I've read from folks supposedly "in the know", Rich told someone today that he isn't going anywhere, and that he was offered the Arkansas job before Petrino - they were going to pay his buyout (which is huge), and he turned them down.

But who knows.... as we all know things in coaching can change rapidly.

If he leaves, maybe we'll get someone who's learned that sometimes you have to throw the ball.

-- I don't have any kind of inside info...but I think he's gone. The backlash from the big money donors for doing this two yrs in a row is would to be big. I doubt they are going to contribute millions more after the commitment that they made last yr. I don't think you even meet with UM, considering the PR/Recruiting/effect on bowl game ticket sales hit, unless you are really thinking about leaving.

I am sick of all this. Its the Beilein stuff all over again. If you don't want to be at WVU then go. Beilein didn't and now we have a bball coach that does. Its hard not to look at Rich and wonder aloud if he wants to be the head coach at West Virginia. The whole world knows that Terry Bowden has been dying for the WVU job for sometime. Maybe that's the route we need to take if Rich does head north

Jackson

WacoBearcat Wrote:Increasingly, I'm having difficulty seeing the difference between coaches and whores. But in saying that, can you really blame coaches? The expectations that boosters and fans now have for winning are unreasonable and the collective memory of fans and school administrations are short. A coach can go from a hero one year to being fired the next.

This why coaches sign long term contracts to protect themselves in case they get fired. Of course, "long term" and "contract" mean nothing these days. It absolutely means nothing. In fact, why even bother signing contracts? Coaches should just be mercenaries that go from job to job after each year.

Rich Rod going to another interview after the Alabama incident is making a statement to WVU that he is not really committed to WVU. I can see him doing this once every few years but after 1 year? What kind of message he is sending to the fan base and WVU players. How is it helping WVU players preparing for one of the biggest games in the history of WVU?

Michigan has an excellent assistant in Ron English. Why don't they make him the head coach? I think he is ready. Perhaps it is his skin color.

bitcruncher Wrote:Why does everyone assume money is Rodriguez' objective? His main concern last time was raises for his assistant coaches, and improvements to the facilities in Morgantown. His raise was a perk.

That's what I mean when I say money. Money for him and the assistants because he complained about that. Not just money for himself.

Michigan is a SWEET job for a FB coach and all will listen. The question is does he think that he has reach the top at WV and that it will be tougher for him to stay there.
Lets face it he will be able to get better player at Michigan, that name will open recruits homes that were close to him in past.
I think with him it will not be money as wether WV is the place where he can have a year in year end national contender. He has been close past two years but can it be sustained in the long run

It seems he doens't want to be there anymore, imo. The timing sucks for recruiting. Its a shame, but who knows what will happen.
Its the world of college football right now, unfortunately.

If it's a spending war, WVU has lost to start with. I don't think that's it.

So is Rich Rod the Big East's new Bobby Pinnochio?

Jackson1011 Wrote:

wvucrazed Wrote:From what I've read from folks supposedly "in the know", Rich told someone today that he isn't going anywhere, and that he was offered the Arkansas job before Petrino - they were going to pay his buyout (which is huge), and he turned them down.

But who knows.... as we all know things in coaching can change rapidly.

If he leaves, maybe we'll get someone who's learned that sometimes you have to throw the ball.

- I don't have any kind of inside info...but I think he's gone. The backlash from the big money donors for doing this two yrs in a row is would to be big. I doubt they are going to contribute millions more after the commitment that they made last yr. I don't think you even meet with UM, considering the PR/Recruiting/effect on bowl game ticket sales hit, unless you are really thinking about leaving.

I am sick of all this. Its the Beilein stuff all over again. If you don't want to be at WVU then go. Beilein didn't and now we have a bball coach that does. Its hard not to look at Rich and wonder aloud if he wants to be the head coach at West Virginia. The whole world knows that Terry Bowden has been dying for the WVU job for sometime. Maybe that's the route we need to take if Rich does head north

Jackson

I agree w/ you. I think he's gone as well, I think the above was just wishful thinking on someone's behalf.

And frankly.... I don't give a f---. That may be hard to believe, but honestly I don't care. I'm too tired of it. After the Alabama fiasco last year, and his tendency to get outcoached in big games, maybe a fresh start with some new blood is just the thing to take us to the next level.

If he's actually talked with Michigan - after all WVU and WVU Fans and alumni did last year to keep him at WVU, and all the talk about being here "for a long time" - and he STILL talked w/ Michigan - then I hope he leaves.

bitcruncher Wrote:If it's a spending war, WVU has lost to start with. I don't think that's it.

Michigan hasn't been throwing that much money around. They even lowballed Les Miles.

Rumors are running rampant that RR to Michigan is a done deal.  Allegedly he meant with Michigan's president with his agent in tow.  Someone said that on the Cincinnati board.  Now there are reports all around that he is headed to Ann Arbor.

wvucrazed Wrote:

Jackson1011 Wrote:

wvucrazed Wrote:From what I've read from folks supposedly "in the know", Rich told someone today that he isn't going anywhere, and that he was offered the Arkansas job before Petrino - they were going to pay his buyout (which is huge), and he turned them down.

But who knows.... as we all know things in coaching can change rapidly.

If he leaves, maybe we'll get someone who's learned that sometimes you have to throw the ball.

- I don't have any kind of inside info...but I think he's gone. The backlash from the big money donors for doing this two yrs in a row is would to be big. I doubt they are going to contribute millions more after the commitment that they made last yr. I don't think you even meet with UM, considering the PR/Recruiting/effect on bowl game ticket sales hit, unless you are really thinking about leaving.

I am sick of all this. Its the Beilein stuff all over again. If you don't want to be at WVU then go. Beilein didn't and now we have a bball coach that does. Its hard not to look at Rich and wonder aloud if he wants to be the head coach at West Virginia. The whole world knows that Terry Bowden has been dying for the WVU job for sometime. Maybe that's the route we need to take if Rich does head north

Jackson

I agree w/ you. I think he's gone as well, I think the above was just wishful thinking on someone's behalf.

And frankly.... I don't give a f---. That may be hard to believe, but honestly I don't care. I'm too tired of it. After the Alabama fiasco last year, and his tendency to get outcoached in big games, maybe a fresh start with some new blood is just the thing to take us to the next level.

If he's actually talked with Michigan - after all WVU and WVU Fans and alumni did last year to keep him at WVU, and all the talk about being here "for a long time" - and he STILL talked w/ Michigan - then I hope he leaves.

West Virginia football will be fine. Hang in there Mountaineer fans!!